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Dr. Brent Robicheau

Postdoctoral Researcher at Clark University, MA, USA

PhD (J LaRoche Lab, мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥, Nova Scotia, Canada) 2023
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Marine phytoplankton and diazotrophs in the NW Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway
MScÌý(DT Stewart Lab, Acadia University, NS, Canada) 2016Ìý
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýMitochondrial DNA Inheritance Patterns in Mussels
BScH (M Snyder Lab, Acadia University, NS, Canada) 2013
Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌýRibosomal RNA Gene Evolution in Eukaryotic Genomes
ECO Canada InternshipÌý(AK Walker Lab, Acadia University, NS, Canada) 2016
Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Fungal Endophyte Genetics & Coastal Fungal Diversity

PhD Research

During my time in the LaRoche Lab I explored microdiversity patterns for the cyanobacterial diazotroph,ÌýCandidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (also known as 'UCYN-A') along the Scotian Shelf and within the North Atlantic Ocean more generally. Other major components of my PhD research included the study of phytoplankton and their community characteristics within the coastal Northwest Atlantic, andÌýthe study ofÌýdiazotroph biodiversity and biogeographyÌýwithin the Canadian Arctic Gateway.ÌýMy PhD research also involved the use of environmental DNA andÌýoceanographic data from the 20-year Bedford Basin Monitoring Program time series that is maintained by the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax Harbour (NS).Ìý

Genetics of Coastal Organisms & Marine Microbial BiodiversityÌý

As a biologist, I am interested in the genomicsÌý²¹²Ô»å biodiversityÌýof organisms that reside inÌýcoastal regions. Much of my research has focused on three main study areas: the mitochondrial genomics of bivalves and fungal endophytes, the characterization ofÌýmarine microorganism communities both spatiallyÌý²¹²Ô»å temporally (for e.g., fungi, archaea, heterotrophic bacteria, and phytoplankton), andÌýUCYN-A diversity in the North AtlanticÌý(part of my PhD studies). Currently I am working on post-doctoral research studying the genetic basis of cyanophage infectivity across strains ofÌý³§²â²Ô±ð³¦³ó´Ç³¦´Ç³¦³¦³Ü²õ—aÌýkeyÌýmarine phytoplanktonÌýgroup.Ìý

Publications

Robicheau BM, Tolman J, Rose S, Desai D, LaRoche J. 2023. Marine nitrogen-fixers in the Canadian Arctic Gateway are dominated by biogeographically distinct non-cyanobacterial communities. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 99(12): fiad122.

Robicheau BM, Tolman J, Desai D, LaRoche J. 2023. Microevolutionary patterns in ecotypes of the symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A revealed from a Northwest Atlantic coastal time series. Science Advances 9(39): eadh9768.

Raes EJ, Tolman J, Desai D, Ratten J-M, Zorz J, Robicheau BM, Haider D, LaRoche J. 2022.ÌýSeasonal bacterial niche structures and chemolithoautotrophic ecotypes in a North Atlantic fjord. Scientific Reports 12(15335): 1-13.

Taylor VA, Adams SJ, Robicheau BM, Walker AK. 2022. Lulworthia fundyensis Taylor, Adams, Robicheau & Walker sp. nov. In Crous et al. 2022 Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383–1435. Persoonia–MolecularÌýPhylogeny and Evolution of Fungi 48:261–371.

Robicheau BM, Tolman J, Bertrand EM, LaRoche J. 2022.ÌýHighly-resolved interannual phytoplankton community dynamics of the coastal Northwest Atlantic. ISME Communications 2:1-12.Ìý

LaRoche J and Robicheau BM. 2022. The Pelagic Light-Dependent Microbiome. In: The Marine Microbiome, 2nd Edition. Springer, Cham. pp. 395-423. Ìý

Stewart DT, Robicheau BM, Youssef N, Garrido-Ramos MA, Chase EE, Breton S. 2021. Expanding the search for sperm transmission elements in the mitochondrial genomes of bivalve mollusks. Genes 12:1211.Ìý

Adams SJ,ÌýRobicheau BM, LaRue D, Browne R, Walker AK. 2021. Foliar endophytic fungi from the endangered Eastern Mountain Avens (GeumÌýpeckii,ÌýRosaceae) in Canada. Plants 10:1026

Haas S,ÌýRobicheau BM, Rakshit S, Tolman J, Algar CK, LaRoche J, Wallace DWR. 2021. Physical mixing in coastal waters controls and decouples nitrification via biomass dilution. Proceedings of the National AcademyÌýof Sciences of the USA (PNAS) 118:Ìýe2004877118

Stewart DT, Stephenson CM, Stanton LM, Chase EE,ÌýRobicheau BM, Hoeh WR, Breton S. 2021. A proposed method for analyzing molecular signatures to detect hermaphroditism in freshwater mussels: a case study using the eastern floater (PyganodonÌýcataracta). Canadian Journal of Zoology 99:450–458

Walker AK,ÌýRobicheau BM. 2021. Fungal diversity and community structure from coastal and barrier island beaches in the United States Gulf of Mexico.ÌýScientific Reports 11:3889.

Stewart DT, Breton S, Chase EE,ÌýRobicheau BM, Bettinazzi S, Pante E, Youssef N, Garrido-Ramos MA. 2020. An unusual evolutionary strategy: the origins, genetic repertoire, and implications of doubly uniparental inheritance of mitochondrial DNA in bivalves. In: Pontarotti P (ed) Evolutionary Biology—a Transdisciplinary Approach. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Switzerland

Capt C., Bouvet K., Guerra D., Robicheau BM,ÌýStewart D., Pante E., Breton S. 2020.ÌýUnorthodox features in two venerid bivalves with doubly uniparental inheritance of mitochondria. Scientific Reports 10:1087.

Robicheau BM, Adams S., Provencher J., Robertson G., Mallory M., Walker AK. 2019.ÌýDiversity and Keratin Degrading Ability of Fungi Isolated from Canadian Arctic Marine Bird Feathers.ÌýArctic 72 (4), 347-359.

Chase E., Robicheau BM, Hoeh W.R., Harris J., Stewart D., Breton S. 2018.ÌýThe complete male-type mitochondrial genomes of the Fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea, and the endangered Arkansas Fatmucket, Lampsilis powellii. Mitochondrial DNA Part B. 4.Ìý

Robicheau BM, Chase E., R. Hoeh W., Harris J., Stewart D., Breton S. 2018. Evaluating the utility of the female-specific mitochondrial f-orf gene for population genetic, phylogeographic and systematic studies in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida). PeerJ. 6(2).

Moland S., Robicheau BM, Browne R., Newell R., Walker A. 2018.ÌýDetermining the effects of biochar and an arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculant on the growth of fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata) (Poaceae). Facets. 3.

Chase E., Robicheau BM, Breton S., Stewart D. 2018.ÌýThe complete mitochondrial genome of the hermaphroditic freshwater mussel Anodonta cygnea (Bivalvia: Unionidae): In silico analyses of sex-specific ORFs across order Unionoida. BMC Genomics. 19(19).

Stewart D., Sinclair-Waters M., Rice A., Bunker R., Robicheau BM, Breton S. 2018.ÌýDistribution and frequency of mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) populations of southwestern Nova Scotia (Canada). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 96(6).Ìý

Robicheau BM, Bunbury-Blanchette A., Laubutti K., Grigoriev Igor., Walker A. 2017.ÌýThe homothallic mating-type locus of the conifer needle endophyte Phialocephala scopiformis DAOMC 229536 (Order Helotiales). Fungal Biology. 121(12).

Robicheau BM, Susko E., Harrigan A., Snyder M. 2017.ÌýRibosomal RNA Genes Contribute to the Formation of Pseudogenes and Junk DNA in the Human Genome. Genome Biology and Evolution. 9(2):380-397.Ìý

Robicheau BM, Breton S., Stewart D. 2016.ÌýSequence motifs associated with paternal transmission of mitochondrial DNA in the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus (Bivalvia: Mytilidae). Gene. 605.Ìý

Robicheau BM, E. Powell A., Del Bel L., Breton S., Stewart D. 2016.ÌýEvidence for extreme sequence divergence between the male- and female-transmitted mitochondrial genomes in the bivalve mollusc, Modiolus modiolus (Mytilidae). Journal ofÌýZoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 55(2).Ìý

Robicheau BM, Young A., Labutti K., Grigoriev I., Walker A. 2016.ÌýThe complete mitochondrial genome of the conifer needle endophyte, Phialocephala scopiformis DAOMC 229536 confirms evolutionary division within the fungal Phialocephala fortinii s.l. – Acephala appalanata species complex. Fungal Biology. 121(3).

Salamone A., Robicheau BM, Walker A. 2016.ÌýFungal diversity of marine biofilms on artificial reefs in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Botanica Marina. 59(5):291-305.Ìý